Shedding her pretense, the runner, long shackled by the constraints of her so-called ideal image, finally confronted her true self and challenged her lifelong rival!
"I am! Kousei!"
A chaotic aura swept across the racetrack as the Demon Lord descended from the heavens. Gale-force winds churned into monstrous waves, engulfing even the grandstands.
Undaunted by the crackling lightning, Kousei's hooves thundered after the thunder itself. The Demon God's relentless onslaught pressed closer with each stride, a blade forged to strike down the very thunder.
"I've been waiting for you!"
The thunder's force intensified, an unstoppable power unleashed.
Kousei's stride grew wilder, her breath ragged. Fiery passion blazed in her eyes, a primal roar echoing across the racetrack as waves of heat shimmered from the trampled grass.
"Only you! Only you!"
Shedding all unnecessary burdens, she poured her everything into this final showdown with her rival!
"Come at me! I'll etch your name into the legend of Mejiro Glory!"
The Demon God's foot surged forth with dazzling splendor. On the horizon, two figures intertwined and clashed relentlessly, their silhouettes locked in mortal combat.
A one-on-one duel!
Breaking free from the pack, they surged into a realm entirely their own.
The scorched grass transformed into a starry expanse, the racetrack vanishing into the night sky. Two brilliant stars twinkled against the cosmic backdrop.
Time slowed to a crawl, the roar of the crowd fading into nothingness. The track disappeared, the spectators vanished—only McQueen remained, running ahead of Kousei under the radiant starlight.
"You're so fast, McQueen."
Even so, Kousei couldn't close the gap on McQueen's lightning-fast pace. It was a lament, nothing more.
Kousei knew she couldn't match McQueen's natural talent. McQueen possessed enviable leg strength and stamina.
"I never knew running could be this exhilarating," Kousei thought.
Talent mattered little here. This was the world of Umamusume, where dreams reigned supreme! Whether ordinary or prodigiously gifted, self-belief was the only true currency.
"I'm going to beat you, McQueen!" Kousei shouted.
Time seemed to stretch as the intense energy of their duel enveloped the crowd. People stared in awe, unconsciously clenching their fists.
"Run..."
"Run!"
"Run!!"
"Run!!!!"
The grandstand erupted in a cacophony of cheers, impossible to discern who they favored. One thing was certain: this race transcended individual rivalries. The crowd was united in their support for their chosen champion.
Like a comet streaking across the sky, Kousei closed in on McQueen, now as swift as thunder. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the figures of the Umamusume flickering in the electric light.
"Faster! Even faster!" Kousei urged herself.
Each stride drove harder into the earth, each breath drawn deeper, each ounce of effort bringing her closer to her ideal.
Kousei's hooves sank deep into the turf, her legs feeling as heavy as lead. Every step grew agonizing, her body pushed to its absolute limit.
"Keep up!" McQueen called out.
At that moment, a thunderbolt flashed, and McQueen's figure drew closer.
The path, once shrouded in darkness, was gradually illuminated by a radiant light. Mejiro McQueen's silhouette shone brightly ahead, until the world was completely bathed in light, and then she vanished without a trace.
"She's calling me."
Faster, faster! Break free from these shackles and evolve anew!
"Cast aside all distractions! The reason I stand here! To claim from the world my right to stand beside you—as your rival (dearest friend)!"
The starry sky shattered as the Umamusume raced across the verdant pasture, chasing after her first friend.
"McQueen!"
The Red Comet soared once more, surrendering to instinct and pouring every ounce of strength into her run!
"The final turn! The outcome will be decided here!"
Their pupils reflected each other's determined faces as they prepared to bestow upon their rival the ultimate treasure: victory.
McQueen and Kousei: "I will absolutely be the victor!"
Locked in a fierce tug-of-war, Kousei felt the crushing pressure. Mejiro's strength lived up to its reputation, but Kousei had her own reason not to yield.
"I absolutely must stand on the same stage as you—as your rival!"
White Chariot, watch me endure through sheer willpower!
They exchanged blows like dancers in a tango, their captivating clash a spectacle worthy of rapt attention.
As they approached the final turn, their last gamble, everything hung in the balance!
"I'll surge ahead before the final turn!" McQueen muttered, poised to strike.
Suddenly, Kousei's brilliant stride faltered, coming to an abrupt halt. Like a feather, she stopped effortlessly, without the slightest deceleration.
This perfectly timed maneuver positioned her precisely in McQueen's path, boxing her in.
"Got you, McQueen," Kousei declared, her calm gaze radiating triumph.
"What's she planning? Doesn't matter, as long as I reach the final straight."
McQueen, momentarily stunned, quickly reacted. But she soon realized she had made a critical error.
Though the standoff lasted only an instant, the Umamusume behind them surged forward at the crucial moment. The wave of the pack instantly engulfed McQueen. Kousei glanced back one last time before sprinting toward the final straight.
The red streak shot forward, taking the lead with ferocious momentum and sharp precision. The answer wasn't within the pack, but ahead, where the Crimson Star blazed brightly on the horizon. The path to glory offered no shortcuts; mere tenacity alone would not earn praise.
Whether they were prodigies or scions of elite families, if they dared to doubt my strength, I'd make them all taste defeat!
Kousei threw her arms wide, embracing victory with unrestrained exuberance.
This was Kousei's first triumph, and more importantly, her first as an Umamusume.
A thunderous roar of cheers surged toward her like a tidal wave, while inside Kousei's chest, her burning heart pounded fiercely.
The highly anticipated heiress of the prestigious Mejiro Family only managed second place in this race.
Kousei spun around, sweat droplets shimmering like stars under the bright sunlight. Facing her rival like a destined adversary, Kousei grinned broadly and offered a fist bump.
"Three lengths back at you!"
Mejiro McQueen showed no disappointment or anger, only a rekindled fighting spirit. A fiercely competitive smile spread across both their faces as their fists bumped.
Yes, as contemporaries, neither would back down.
Their rivalry had only just begun.